Israel exposes Hamas’ biggest tunnel network in Gaza
The four-kilometre network splits into branches of tunnels and reaches as deep as 50 metres underground
The Israeli army said it had exposed the largest tunnel network built by Hamas in Gaza to date, just 400 metres from the Erez border crossing with Israel.
The IDF named it “Sinwar’s Subterranean Tunnel System” as the project was led by Muhammad Sinwar, the brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
The network of more than 4km splits into branches of tunnels and reaches as deep as 50 metres underground. It’s large enough to allow vehicles to drive through and has sophisticated ventilation and electric systems.
The IDF saids the tunnel network has “multiple branches, electricity and sewage facilities installed, and blast doors to block access. The tunnel displays other construction characteristics, such as extensive concrete arches and multiple access shafts.”
Israeli army releases videos of what it says is Hamas’ largest tunnel network in Gaza: 2.5 km long and 50 meter deep – 400 meter from the Erez border crossing. pic.twitter.com/qvWBKCY0zB
— Jotam Confino (@mrconfino) December 17, 2023
Lt Col Richard Hecht, the IDF international spokesperson, said Hamas persistently and deliberately invested “enormous amounts of money and resources into terrorist tunnels that serve only one purpose – attacking the State of Israel and its residents.”
“This strategic attack tunnel network, large enough to drive vehicles through, was spearheaded by Muhammad Sinwar and intentionally dug near a crossing dedicated to the movement of Gazans into Israel for work and medical care. For Hamas, attacking the people of Israel continues to take priority over supporting the people of Gaza,” he added.
The IDF has exposed hundreds of terror tunnel shafts in Gaza, and recently began flooding some of them with sea water, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
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